Welcome Guide 2025/2026
Director, Vienna International School
Message from the Director
Dear Students and Parents,
It is with great joy and anticipation that I welcome you to the Vienna International School (VIS) community.
At VIS, we take pride in being a second home to our students, offering a safe and nurturing space where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed. Our commitment to educating the whole child is reflected in our dedication to fostering qualities such as open-mindedness, resilience, and problem-solving through the esteemed International Baccalaureate programmes, spanning from preschool to the IB Diploma.
Our community is a tapestry of cultures, with students representing over 110 nationalities and speaking more than 80 languages. This rich diversity enhances our learning environment and prepares our students to become compassionate advocates who champion social justice and environmental responsibility.
Whether your interests lie in the performing arts, athletics, or academic pursuits, VIS provides ample opportunities for every student to thrive. Our dedicated educators, excellent facilities, and broad range of curricular and co-curricular activities ensure that each student is treated as an individual and guided toward their own path to success.
I look forward to meeting you at our New Student Orientation Day and witnessing the growth and achievements that this academic year will bring.
Warm regards,
Antony Geralis
Click on the following links below and get directly to your preferred section:
The New Student Orientation Day takes place on Monday, 25 August 2025. This day provides an opportunity to assist our new students and their families with transitioning into the VIS community so they can have a positive start. To support this transition, students and their families will have the chance to meet with their class teachers as well as other staff and students, familiarize themselves with the facilities, and receive some important information on the VIS services in advance of the first day of school:
- Extra-Curricular Programmes
- Extended Day Programme
- Catering
- Transportation – company Blaguss
- PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
Please see the overview of the day below and feel free to email our Admissions office at admissions(at)vis.ac.at if you have any questions.
Primary School families will arrive to school according to the staggered starting times listed below:
- Early Learning Centre (08:30)
- Grade Primary (09:00)
- Grade 1 (09:30)
- Grade 2 (10:00)
- Grade 3 (10:30)
- Grade 4 (11:00)
- Grade 5 (11:30)
Please proceed down the Mall and follow the signs towards your child's grade level table and check in with one of our New Student Ambassadors seated at the marked tables. Our Ambassador team and staff will be on hand to help guide you to classes where you will meet the classroom teacher, ELA teachers, counsellors and Learning Support staff. Afterwards, they will take you on a tour of the school. The orientation should last approximately 75 minutes.
Grade 5 Student Laptops
New Grade 5 students are asked NOT to bring their laptop to school on the New Student Orientation day. This time allows the class teachers and digital learning integrator to complete a series of lessons on Internet safety guidelines, strong passwords lesson, Gmail use guidelines and more.
Grade 5 students should bring laptops on the first day of school Tuesday, 26 August. Students should also bring clearly named headphones, rather than ear pods (which can be easily lost and usually use Bluetooth).
A Guide to Vienna for New Students
Be sure to check out the Primary Student Council's Guide to Vienna for New Students - produced by students, for students.
Secondary School Orientation Programme
Grade 6 - Grade 8 students will meet in the Octagon at 08:30 with their laptops. Parents will meet in the Theatre for a brief Welcome New Parents presentation with the Secondary administration. Grade Level Leaders will also be available to meet with you and hand out the parent ID cards.
During the morning, students will meet with their Grade Level Leader, and have an opportunity to tour the school with a student from their Advisory. They will also set up their laptops, ready for the first day of school. Students will be finished by 10:30 and will meet their parents again in the Octagon.
Grade 9 - Grade 12 students will meet in the Octagon at 10:30 with their laptops. Parents will meet in the Theatre for a brief Welcome to New Parents presentation with the Secondary administration. Grade Level Leaders will also be available to meet with you and hand out the parent ID cards.
During the morning, students will meet with their Grade Level Leader and have an opportunity to tour the school with a student from their Advisory. They will also set up their laptops, ready for the first day of school. Students will be finished by 12:00 and will meet their parents again in the Octagon.
PLATFORM | PURPOSE | ACCESS |
Website | General information | Public |
| SMS | Emergency information (i.e. evacuation drills performed etc.) | Directly to parents |
ManageBac |
Portal to see the student’s individual progress and record attendance excusals | Username & password (provided first day of school) |
Intranet |
Portal for all school-related information | Username & password (same as for ManageBac) |
Schools Buddy |
Portal for extra-curricular registrations |
Access and select "Sign in with ManageBac" |
| Weekly Newsletter | Information on upcoming school events | Direct email to parents |
| Parent Teacher Conferences | Meet the teachers online and discuss the student’s individual progress | Online invitation for registration will be provided close to the event |
| School Events | Family Orientation Morning, Parent Orientation Evenings, General Assembly, Meet with the Director, Curriculum Sessions, Seminars and Workshops, Grade Events, Primary Student Led Conferences, PTA Events | VIS Community |
| School Boards | Information on upcoming school events | In school |
Social Media | Please follow us! | Public |
At VIS, a safe, inclusive, and respectful school culture is a shared responsibility among students, staff, and families. Together, we foster a community where learning, connection, and integrity thrive.
Students are expected to demonstrate international-mindedness, kindness, and personal responsibility across all areas of school life — in person and online, during school hours and beyond. These values guide how we treat others, respond to challenges, and contribute to our diverse, global community.
Our School Code of Conduct is based on three core principles:
- Respect Ourselves
- Respect Others
- Respect the Environment
These principles are reflected in clearly defined expectations for both Primary and Secondary students. We encourage families to review the appropriate version during their transition to VIS:
- Primary School Code of Conduct and Expected Behaviours
- Secondary School Code of Conduct and Expected Behaviours (available in August).
Responding to Unexpected Behaviours
VIS uses a Progressive Disciplinary Procedures Framework that focuses on growth and support, not punishment. Responses are:
- Logical and relevant to the behaviour
- Context-aware, considering individual needs and circumstances
- Developmental, identifying specific skills to build going forward
If you have questions about our Code of Conduct or disciplinary procedures, please contact:
- Ben Hacking, Primary Deputy Principal – bhacking(at)vis.ac.at
- Blake Roberts, Secondary Deputy Principal – broberts(at)vis.ac.at
Welcome to the VIS Community! We are excited to have your children join us for the upcoming school year. We want to provide you with important information from the Finance Office:
- The currently applicable VIS Fees, Terms, and Conditions 2025-2026 can be found under the Admissions Section of the School’s website.
- Invoices for school fees will be sent for each new school year by 30 June for students who are enrolled by that time.
- Tuition Payments are due in full by 30 August (4 weeks from the invoice date) unless you have selected the installment plan option upon enrollment. Installment due dates are 30 August, 30 October, 30 January, and 30 March for all students except graduating 12th graders with a final installment due on 30 January. All other fees are due within 14 days from the invoice date.
- To support you in keeping your account current, you may set up a Direct Debit Authorization or a Standing Payment Order with your bank. Please contact the VIS Finance Manager at financeoffice(at)vis.ac.at to assist you with this.
- A late payment fee of 40€ will be charged for past due accounts.
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding invoices or payments, please reach out to us at: financeoffice(at)vis.ac.at
We look forward to supporting you throughout your child's educational journey. If you need any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us at: financeoffice(at)vis.ac.at
See here the calendar of the School Year 2025/2026
The School follows a cycle with A and B weeks, as presented in the school yearly calendar above. New parents will be provided with the logins to the VIS ManageBac, the main learning platform, where they can find the weekly schedule and other academic information. Parents can use the same credentials to login the VIS Intranet, the school communication platform, to check the extended calendar containing the school events throughout the school year.
Thank you for providing the pictures necessary for issuing the Parent ID cards.
During Orientation Day, Primary School parents will be receiving their Parent ID badge from their class teacher and Secondary School Parents will be receiving the Parent ID badge from their Grade Level Leaders.
All parents must wear their VIS ID cards when entering the School premises and on campus. If you do not have a card, then access will be dependent upon providing identification to the security personnel who will issue a Visitor card.
Please note that the photos uploaded on OpenApply will be used for your and your child's ID cards. Where passport photos are unavailable, ID cards will not be issued. Passport style photos should have the following properties: ratio of 3:4, colour, facing forward and showing the head and top of the shoulders only.
Student ID Cards are required when using Public Transport. They are issued once and renewed at the beginning of the year by the Primary Office. Kindly come to the Primary Office for renewal. You will not receive a new one every year. Please look after it.
If your child is new to school, attach a passport-sized photograph with paper-clip to this completed form, and submit it to the Primary Office in a sealed envelope.
If your child has lost their ID, you must report it missing to a Magistrat office (there is a Magistrat office in every district). The Magistrat will issue a Loss Report (“Verlustmeldung”) which you will have to submit to the Primary Office with a passport sized photograph, and a new student ID will be issued for your child.
If your child’s ID has been destroyed, please bring the destroyed ID to the Primary Office along with a new passport size photo, and a new ID will be issued.
If you have changed your address, you will have to apply for a new ID card. Before applying, you will have to update the School with your new address by sending an email to change(at)vis.ac.at. Only after you have requested these changes, you can apply for a new ID card.
All Secondary students are required to carry their Student EDU cards (Grades 6 – Grade 12). The cards will automatically be processed by the School before a new student starts school, as long as a suitable (passport format) student photo and a Vienna address have been uploaded to OpenApply.
The student photo and EDU card will be used for many purposes in the School i.e. entering the school campus, school canteen, etc., and also as the official student ID for Secondary School students. Students starting throughout the academic year must ensure that the passport photo is uploaded at least 2,5 weeks before their first day of school.
However, if your child has lost their ID, you must report it missing to a Magistrat office (there is a Magistrat in every district). The Magistrat will issue a Loss Report (“Verlustmeldung”) which you will have to submit to the Security Office. If the EDU card is damaged or lost, a replacement fee will be charged.
If you have changed your address you will have to apply for a new ID card. Before applying, you will have to update the School with your new address by sending an email to change(at)vis.ac.at. Only after you have requested these changes you can apply for a new ID card.
Students at Vienna International School are not required to wear an official school uniform, however appropriate clothing for school is expected. Students will dress for school with appropriate consideration and respect for the different cultures and beliefs within our school community. As a learning community, our school is similar to a formal workplace and clothing and shoes should also support the safety requirements of the various areas for learning. Caps or hats for other than religious reasons should not be worn during lessons.
We encourage students to keep reading over the summer holidays. Although it is not mandatory, not only is indulging in a good novel a great pleasure, but it also helps students to maintain their literacy levels over the summer holidays. Please find attached suggested reading lists for the summer holidays. Many of these titles have been enthusiastically recommended by students themselves. Happy summer reading!
Secondary English Department
Recommended Summer Reading Grade 6 and 7
Reading recommendations from Grade 6 students for Grade 5 students
At our School, we harness learning and teaching technologies to support inquiring, inspired and involved lifelong learners. To ensure this, we are committed to policies and practices which entrust that our community members:
- Are empowered as a learning community to become digitally fluent through safe, balanced and discerning use of digital technologies.
- Will have equitable access to authentic learning experiences through the purposeful use of learning and teaching technologies.
- Are inspired to inquire, invent and solve problems in local and global contexts using digital technologies.
- Are supported in becoming responsible, self-directed and reflective users of technology through ongoing opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Embrace an open-minded attitude towards working innovatively with digital tools to optimize learning at VIS.
The Connected Learning Programme (CLP) begins with ensuring that all students have access to the right technological tools that are both developmentally appropriate and suitable to the breadth of learning in their area. The table below explains which devices students will access:
- If your child is ELC to Grade 4, they will be issued with a school-owned iPad.
- If your child is in Grades 5 through 12, they will be expected to bring their own laptop device. While the school strongly recommends Apple, families may choose any platform of laptop device they wish. The table below outlines the device options for families.
- Recommended entry level device - MacBook Air with an English International Keyboard
Our preferred vendor, Tools at Work offers competitive prices and level of support for families who wish to purchase a Mac. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact Wolfgang Schmidt (wschmidt(at)toolsatwork.com) with your request for a MacBook Air and let him know that you are a parent at VIS. He will provide you with an invoice at the reduced price. Once paid, you can choose to have the device delivered to your home or pick it up.
While families can opt for platforms not recommended by VIS, the school strongly advises families to choose Apple for the following reasons:
- Based on the breadth of our curriculum and range of tasks students engage in, applications available through Apple have been most supportive of student learning. Over time, the school has acquired licenses for these applications and shares them with students free of charge through our device management infrastructure, thus eliminating the need for families to find and install the applications themselves.
- Apple’s OS and the applications we use to support the curriculum are generally developmentally more appropriate and intuitive for children across the school.
- Teachers at VIS have built up a knowledge base on how best to use such applications to support learning. Similarly, our IT department has built up the knowledge base and infrastructure to support students on the Mac platform.
- When properly cared for, Macs function and perform well over a long period of time. Students need a device that will support their learning over many years and, in our experience, Apple’s devices do so with less need for repair, upgrading or replacement.
- Finally, Apple also provides a thorough set of parental controls to help support safer, more sensible and responsible use of the device. Parents can easily administer the device, set controls on apps that can be downloaded, set and monitor web activity, and even control screen time. The school works with families to help set up these controls through workshops and other resources.
Early Learning Centre to Grade 4
Trolleys are part of classroom furniture.
Grade 5
Lockable storage and charging trolleys are available for all students in Grades 5. Families have the following options when it comes to charging and transportation back and forth between home and school:
- Children are allowed to take the device back and forth between home and school on a regular basis. The charging cable will not be installed in the trolley unless the family purchases a second charging cable and requests it be installed.
- Children are allowed to take the device home on weekends and holidays. The charging cable will be installed in the trolley at the beginning of the year and returned at the end of the year.
- Children are not allowed to take their device home until the end of the year. The charging cable will be installed in the trolley at the beginning of the year and returned at the end of the year.
Grades 6 through 12
Students can store laptops in their lockers when needed but are encouraged to bring them home every night and on holidays. Students are expected to charge their devices at home in preparation for the next day’s learning.
Dear Parents,
The Medical Department prepared some medical-related recommendations for you upon your family moving to Vienna.
1) Register your child with a pediatrician, not a GP (General Practitioner). The pediatrician is the first point of contact if your child/ren get sick and need medical treatment/attention. The pediatrician issues medical certificates. Confirmation for non-contagious status, physical education excusal notes, and other services.
2) Register the adults in your family with a GP:
- Writes you off sick from work.
- Refers you (if necessary) to a specialist.
- Amongst others offers blood checks, infusions, vaccinations, EKG, prescriptions etc.
- In case you cannot find a pediatrician upon your arrival, the GP offers some basic services for children as well.
When will you need a medical certificate for your child?
- Medical absences for a period of three days or longer must be supported by a doctor’s sick note.
- Regular absence for medical or dental treatment must be supported by written notification from a medical practitioner.
- Communicable disease: If a student is identified with a communicable disease, the School Health Office should be informed immediately. Parents/guardians are advised to provide a doctor’s certificate. Upon the student’s return to school parents/guardians must provide the School Health Office with a doctor’s certificate that the student is no longer contagious.
School Accident - Kindly take note that all student accidents that occur on campus must be reported to the Medical Department immediately. The School must report school accidents to the Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt (AUVA) within 5 days.
If your child must go to hospital because of an accident in school, it is advised to go to Lorenz Böhler Unfallkrankenhaus or Unfallkrankenhaus Meidling since both are AUVA hospitals.
All students starting Grade 1 will undertake a physical examination once a year.
If there are any new medical issues or something changes, please contact the Medical Department as soon as possible.
It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to give written permission to the School Health Office for non-prescription and prescription medications that could be taken at school. All medications will be kept in the School Health Office.
It is a parental responsibility to inform the Medical Department of any relevant changes in the student’s medical history/medical regimen.
On the first school day, please bring medication for the student to the Medical Department, which will be stored and given to the student if needed.
Medical Department is closed during summer holidays and it reopens on Monday, 19 August.
The general email address is: medicaldepartment(at)vis.ac.at. The School Doctor is Denise Stiegler - dstiegler(at)vis.ac.at
Please note that the doctor will not be available to answer school-related emails during the school holidays.
Here at VIS we offer a full range of activities. For all grade levels we have creative, musical, academically influenced and sporting groups. We understand that learning happens in the classroom, and feel strongly that the Extra-Curricular Programmes come to support a student’s holistic development. We have designed our programmes to offer each student a space for them to succeed by reaching their individual potential.
UPDATE 20 August: Information regarding the After-School Activities and Competitive Sports Programme 2025-26
At VIS, we believe in providing a well-rounded, engaging experience for our students, both in and outside the classroom. Our extensive After-School Activities programme is open to all students from Grade Primary to Grade 12, offering a wide variety of fun and enriching activities. Primary School students can stay on campus until 16:15, while Secondary School students have even more flexible, extended options.
Safety, enjoyment, and personal growth are at the heart of everything we do. Our activities include non-competitive sports, skill-building sessions, arts and crafts, board and strategy games, martial arts, and even cooking. Whether your child is looking to develop new skills, make friends, or simply have fun, there’s something for everyone!
Registration for the After-School Activities programme will open following the start of the school year, with activities beginning on Monday, 15 September 2025. Detailed information on the programme and the registration process will be shared during the New Student Orientation Day and through Managebac messages from our Sports and Activities office.
We look forward to welcoming your child to a world of creativity, learning, and fun after school!
UPDATE 20 August: Information regarding the After-School Activities and Competitive Sports Programme 2025-26
At VIS, we believe that sports are more than just games—they’re an opportunity to build character, achieve greatness, and form lifelong memories. Our Competitive Sports Programme is designed for young athletes who are passionate about pushing their limits, developing their skills, and representing our school with pride. This programme is an essential part of a VIS education, fostering not only athletic excellence but also the core values of sportsmanship, respect, teamwork, and commitment.
For those who dream of competing at a higher level, we provide the chance to go head-to-head with schools from around the world. As members of both the Danube Valley Athletic Conference (DVAC) and the International School Athletic Association (ISAA), our athletes compete against schools across Europe, England, and Northern Africa, gaining experience in a wide range of sports. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just starting, there’s a place for you to grow and shine.
The programme is organized into three exciting seasons—Autumn, Winter, and Spring—and is tailored to students from Middle School (Grades 6-8) to High School (Grades 9-12), with boys' and girls' teams in most sports. Each season offers a dynamic mix of events at varying levels, ensuring there’s something for every athlete to enjoy.
Here’s a look at what’s available for the 2025-2026 academic year:
Season 1: HS Boys and Girls Soccer, Volleyball, Cross Country Running, HS Boys and Girls Rugby, MS Girls and Boys Soccer, Cross Country Running, MS Tennis and Swimming.
Season 2: MS and HS Girls and Boys Basketball and Ski Racing.
Season 3: MS and HS Girls and Boys Track & Field, Golf, MS Boys and Girls Volleyball.
All year/part of the year: Recreational Badminton, as well as the additional Off-season training for all sports outside of their official season.
Whether your child is looking to compete in less serious, fun friendlies or more challenging international level tournaments, the VIS Competitive Sports Programme provides a supportive environment to train, improve, and shine. We encourage all budding athletes and their families to embrace this opportunity and make the most of the exciting challenges ahead.
Registration details and more information will be shared during the New Student Orientation Day, through the weekly newsletter, and through Managebac messages from our Sports and Activities office.
At VIS, we’re more than just a school—we’re a team. Let’s achieve greatness together!
UPDATE 20 August: Information regarding the Extended-Day Programme 2025-26
The Extended Day Programme provides VIS students from ELC - Grade 5 a welcoming and inclusive programme of supervised care and age-appropriate activities which support their learning and well-being outside the core school day. For families requiring supervision for their children after 14:55, VIS offers a fee-based afternoon supervision and care option from 15:00 to 17:30. A healthy snack and drink are provided through the school’s catering provider.
The Extended Day Programme will start on 26 August 2025.
More details in regard to the Extended Day Programme and the registration process will be available on the New Student Orientation Day and in the weekly newsletter, as well as school Intranet*.
*access to the Intranet platform will be provided at the beginning of the school year.
VIS was a pioneer amongst international schools in recognizing the importance of additive bilingualism - that is, the continuing development of our students‘ home languages while at the same time learning the school language of English. A large number of research studies show very clearly that bilingualism can increase children’s language abilities and help their progress in school. Both the Primary and Secondary School at VIS are truly international in that the majority of our students speak a language other than English as their first language. Across the School, the Mother Tongue programme has students from Grade Primary - Grade 12 learning in around 30 different languages.
More details in regard to the Mother Tongue Programme and the registration process will be available on the New Student Orientation Day and in the weekly newsletter, as well as school Intranet*.
*access to the Intranet platform will be provided at the beginning of the school year.
Latin classes are taught in English, based on the international course programme of the Cambridge Latin Course. The curriculum of the 4-year Latin programme at VIS usually starts in Grade 7. The Diploma at the end of Grade 10 is officially recognized as Austrian Matura Equivalence in the subject Latin. Latin is also a prerequisite for the study of certain subjects at university, especially in Austria (law, medicine, languages, history etc.)
More details in regard to the Latin Programme and the registration process will be available on the New Student Orientation Day and in the weekly newsletter, as well as school Intranet*.
*access to the Intranet platform will be provided at the beginning of the school year.
The Vienna International School prides itself on a very strong and successful Extra-Curricular Performing Arts Programme.
From classical music, to jazz, to classical guitar to rock, we offer a variety of musical ensembles so that students have the ability to immerse themselves in the genre that best suits their interests. All ensembles are taught by our faculty of highly qualified and dedicated teachers to guide our students as they work to develop and hone their skills. VIS produces three major concerts in school throughout the year and often performs on the Vienna Music Scene (Musikverein, Peterskirche, etc.)
In addition, the VIS Secondary School has a long history of producing a drama or musical every year. Students are given the opportunity to take responsibility for all aspects of the production, from acting, to set building, to assistant directing, to running the technical aspects of the production.
More details in regard to the Performing Arts Programme and the registration process will be available on the New Student Orientation Day, in the weekly newsletter, as well as school Intranet*.
*access to the Intranet platform will be provided at the beginning of the school year.
We are proud to be able to offer you top class instrumental and vocal tuition by well-qualified instructors on the VIS campus. Last year, we taught over 340 VIS students on 14 different instruments and voice. These students presented their musicianship on numerous occasions, i.e. in concerts, musicals, class recitals, organised school trips as well as in the IB programme.
More details in regard to the VISMA Programme and the registration process will be available on the New Student Orientation Day and in the weekly newsletter, as well as school Intranet*.
*access to the Intranet platform will be provided at the beginning of the school year.
Being a diverse community with students from more than 100 nationalities, we take our children on a culinary journey around the world every day.
We offer high-quality, freshly prepared meals and a seasonal selection of international choices to support our students' mental as well as physical performance. The daily menu contains a culinary variety of options and at least one vegetarian alternative. Our Catering Team will be happy to inform you about allergens in our ingredients and products.
The VIS and its new partner Sodexo operate a full-service cafeteria during the lunch and break hours, and user-friendly vending machines. During lunch time, meals are available on an à la carte basis or at a discounted prepaid rate.
We invite you to take a few moments to explore the brochure below. Inside, you’ll find everything you need to know about our catering offerings and registration.
Register for the Pay-as-you-Go Option/eatApp/eatWebsite
Register for the Pre-Paid Lunch Programme/eatApp/eatWebsite
Imprint and Privacy Policy
School transport is not just about getting your child from A to B - it is about the comforting reassurance that your child is in safe hands on the way to school and back home.
The VIS and its partner, Blaguss, take this concern off your hands by offering optional first-class bus service for your child. Daily VIS school buses, in the morning and afternoon, ensure punctual and reliable transportation.
Registration platform (routes and price information) - click HERE
For more information, please contact bus(at)blaguss.com.
Blaguss 24h hotline +43 (0) 50655 - 0.
The City of Vienna has a comprehensive public transport system run by the Wiener Linien (Public Transportation Routes). In order to obtain a student transport pass, you need the student ID card, which can only be issued after the school starts. To use the public transport, you can choose from the following ticket options.
Our school is easily reachable by U1 subway, situated right next to the Kagran U-bahn station.
Please also find here a touristic map of Vienna with practical information issued by Wien Extra, for your information and initial support.
In the Secondary School, new students will be assigned an Advisory Ambassador on the first day of school. This student will be their key person at VIS as they settle in. They will meet them on the morning of the first full day of school and show them around. The Advisory Ambassador’s role is to make your child feel part of the school, and to spend time with them while they begin the process of making connections with the students that will eventually become their friends. If you have questions about the VIS Ambassador programme, please feel free to contact the Secondary School Counsellor, Ms. Kirsty Hantsch, at khantsch(at)vis.ac.at.
In addition to the Ambassador programme, a new student lunch is held in the second week of school allowing an opportunity for all new students to connect with the Secondary Counselling Team, their Advisors, and Grade Leaders in a more relaxed environment. The Secondary Counsellors will also reach out to all new students in the initial weeks of school, inviting them to meet individually to answer any remaining questions and provide any necessary support with their transition.
At the beginning of the Academic year, VIS holds an Activity Week. It is a great opportunity for our students to connect with their new friends and teachers outside of the classroom.
All Secondary School students will be involved in the Activity Week from 8 to 12 September 2025.
Grades 6, 8 and 9 will be away on residential trips from Monday to Friday. These trips involve hiking, team building activities, cultural experiences and more learning activities. Further information will be provided at the start of the school year, as well as at the Parent Information Evenings which are held at the start of the school year. A packing list for these trips can be found here to help you with your planning.
Grades 7, 10, 11 and 12 will be based in Vienna. All parents will receive more information from the Secondary School, including a detailed schedule for the week nearer the time, as well as during our Parent Information Evenings at the start of the school year.
We are thrilled to welcome you to the VIS community!
All parents, guardians, and staff are automatically members of the VIS Parent Teacher Association (PTA), without the need to file an application. We organize community events, fundraise to support school activities, and coordinate social clubs to help connect parents. All members of the community are encouraged to attend our monthly meetings (in person or online), join various clubs, and volunteer to support our contributions to VIS.
Our New Family Programme is designed to help you settle into life at VIS and in Vienna. As part of this programme, we connect you with an experienced VIS family — your personal "Welcome Guide" — who can answer your questions, share helpful tips, and guide you through the transition. When possible, we try to match families based on language, cultural background and/or grade level of children.
To be matched with a Welcome Family, please complete the New Family Form via this link. We have a large network of established families who are ready to help support you during this transition time. Friendships, lasting beyond Vienna, have grown from these first connections, and we hope you are able to be part of it.
Another option is our VIS PTA Welcome Group on WhatsApp. You can join the group with this link. The group includes parents of established families from both the primary and secondary schools, and is a great place to post questions about VIS or life in Vienna before the start of the school year. It could also be a place to coordinate family meet-ups over the summer.
You can join the WhatsApp group and/or be matched with a Welcome Family - whatever works best for your family’s needs.
Our first community event of the 2025-2026 school year will be a Welcome Back BBQ on a Saturday afternoon in September - the exact date will be shared as soon as possible. This is a great opportunity to meet other families in a relaxed and friendly setting. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions about the PTA or your transition to VIS by sending an email to: ptachair(at)ptavis.com.
VISA is a member-based organization whose membership comprises the parents of enrolled students. Membership is based on a "one vote per family" principle and is conferred on the parent identified as such during the enrolment process. As a member, you have the right to participate in the activities and decision-making processes of VISA in accordance with its articles of association, the "Statutes". This includes electing members of the Board (see below), standing for election, and attending the annual meeting of the General Assembly, which considers a range of educational, operational, financial and staffing matters relating to the school. During the first semester of the school year, you will receive an email from the Director's office confirming your membership. Please note that some rights of participation can be exercised by your registered spouse, while some rights might not be available if either parent is a staff member. If you have any questions about membership, please contact director(at)vis.ac.at.
VISA is managed by a Board, which is charged with policy setting and the overall management and administration of VISA. Among other things, the Board approves the school's budget and appoints the Director. More information on the role and makeup of the Board is available on the VIS website, while detailed information on the activities of the Board, as well as on the governance of the school in general, can be found on the intranet.
In order to familiarise yourself with our facilities here at Vienna International School, please take some time to experience our virtual tour. Take a virtual walk through our beautiful premises by
- following the dots to navigate your way through our school campus and building,
- choosing from school campus ‘highlights’ at the bottom of the screen,
- clicking the 'Play' button to have the full 360-experience, or
- taking a bird’s-eye view of our building by selecting the 'Dollhouse' or 'Floorplan' options.
If you're eager to find out more about VIS, you are welcome to follow us on Social Media to get an insight into our school life. Please follow us by clicking on the icons below!
